Sometimes after significant weight loss, women find out that they had lost weight from all over their bodies but not from their breasts so; they tend to reduce its size to match their new body size. In some other cases there is an asymmetry in the breast size that needs a surgical interference to rectify the situation. In some cases, changing the appearance of the person is the only reason to undergo that surgical operation.

No matter what the reason is, the only thing that you need to make sure of is that you are doing this for your own self not for someone else. Some women undergo this operation just to satisfy their spouse or boyfriend, this is not the right reason to take this critical decision.

You must know that any surgical operation has its own risks and complications so; you need to make sure that it is your own decision because it is only you who will bear the consequences.

While you are taking the decision, you need to gather as much information as you can about the operation. Take a look at before and after photos from different surgeons just to find out the best option for you. Also you may need to find out a forum or a website where other women had taken the same decision before. Ask them about their experience and what they have done after the operation, also you may ask them about the complications they had faced. All of this will help you take a well educated decision.

When you are fully convinced that breast reduction surgery is your chosen option then you need to find a certified surgeon near you and book an appointment to discuss everything in person with him. This session is very important because it will let you know what to expect practically. Tell your surgeon about any previous medical history to take the needed precautions before proceeding with the operation. Breast reduction surgery is an irreversible decision so make sure that you really want it before you go for it.

Normally, the numbness lasts for a month or little bit more because the nerve endings are severely hurt but it may take a longer time to regain sensation in this area so, be patient. As for the areola area, the numbness may last forever.

The second complication is the scars. Obviously, wherever there is an incision there is a scar and it takes some time before it fades away. The only problem occurs when the scar develop into a hypertrophy or keloid. In this case, the scar may be permanent. Use the scar gels after removing the stitches to reduce the probability of scar formation.
In some other cases during breast reduction, the wound may re-open again and this needs an immediate action so, if you find your wound open again, then you need to call your surgeon immediately. In this case you may need a revision surgery to re- stitch the wound again.
Away from the scars, sometimes the two breasts are not fully symmetrical.

A slight asymmetry may pass unnoticed but if it is severe then it would be noticed with naked eye easily. Be sure to check as much as you can from your surgeon’s before and after portfolio before you decide to use his services.

While it is rare but sometimes it occurs, tissue necrosis is a rare complication of the breast reduction surgery but you may want to take your precautions. A necrotic tissue occurs when the fat tissue remains without proper blood supply. A necrotic tissue may spread infection and cause gangrene so, if you noticed any change in the color of your breast then you may want to call your surgeon directly to take the necessary treatment.

Breast reduction surgery is a must in some cases so, if you decided to undergo such operation then you need to be fully aware of the complication in order to take extreme care and get the best results from your surgery.

The first standard technique is the anchor technique; in this one the surgeon will cut the skin in three different directions horizontally along the breast crease, vertically from the breast crease to the lower end of the areola and finally a circular incision around the areola itself. The diagram resembles an anchor and it is used in different degrees of breast reduction.

The second technique is the standard keyhole technique; this is the basic technique that is used by several surgeons because it can be used with any needed degree of reduction from mild to severe. The process starts by incising a keyhole incision around the areola, remove the skin and the underlying tissue till the desired size then re – stitch the skin back together with lifting the areola to fit in the circular part of the keyhole diagram.

The previous two techniques leave long scars behind but they are the only ways to deal with severe cases but if the case is mild to moderate then there are other choices with fewer scars that you can choose from.

The third technique is called the periareolar technique but it is commonly known as the doughnut technique. The name comes from the shape of the incision in this technique, the surgeon will use the areola as the center of the doughnut then he will cut a circular strip of skin around it. Then he will remove the desired amount of fat and mammary glands manually and at the end the surgeon will stretch the skin to reach the areola and stitch. In this case stitching is mandatory as we cannot use glue or strips to close such wound. This technique will only leave a scar that is disguised at the rim of the dark areola.

The last technique is the simplest one and it is the only one that leaves minimal scars. In this technique the surgeon will perform a liposuction more than breast reduction. Small incisions will be made at the crease, the arm pit and the areola to enter thin liposuction catheter and remove the excess fat from the designated area before sealing these incisions back.